Bermuda College, Division of Liberal Arts
Psychology 1101 01: Introduction to Psychology I
Fall 2015
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10:35 to 11:25
Hallet Hall H100
Professor: Dr. Jeremiah M. Faries
Office hours: TBA
Office: West Hall 316
Phone: 236-9000 ext. 4266
email: jfaries@college.bm
website: www.3dharbour.com/jmf
Prerequisite: ENG 0012 with a grade of C or higher (or equivalent)
Goals of the Course: The purpose of the course is to provide an overview of several areas of the study of human
thought and behaviour. We will examine the biological bases of behaviour and move on to how humans perceive the
world given the sensory inputs. We will also study some higher cognitive functions such as language and memory and
conclude with an investigation of motivation and emotional contributions to human behavior. This course is a survey
of a broad field of study.
We will distinguish between the major perspectives that explain human behaviour and we will consider the empirical
and theoretical support for these theories. You will understand the mechanisms of neural communication and be able
to describe the action potential and the neurochemical communication at the synapse between neurons. You will learn
to identify the physical events to which our senses respond and describe how our bodies convert them to neural signals.
In addition you will understand how our knowledge is used to interpret this sensory information and we will consider
some surprising illusions that illustrate this point. We will spend some time studying learning and you will learn to
explain a variety of human experience from fears to taste preference in the simple terms of Classical Conditioning.
Moreover you will learn the contingencies between our behaviours and their consequences and you will be able to
describe how Operant conditioning can explain much of human learning and behaviour. We will study several models
of memory and you will be able to explain and predict several phenomena relating to memory for simple facts as well
as complex learning such as you will do in this course. We will also consider the enterprise of intelligence testing and
you will be able to formulate arguments for and against the use of such a measure in schools and other elements of
society. You will be able to apply these theories to explain real human events. You will learn to evaluate the theories
in terms of their experimental support and their usefulness in explaining human behaviour
Classes and Assignments: We will meet together in three classes each week. These will generally be lecture format
but with several opportunities for discussion and questions are encouraged Each week you will prepare a short
reading assignment which is outlined on the following page. Please submit these to Moodle on or before the first
day we discuss the chapter in class. We will sometimes use your assignments as part of class or small group
activities. Moreover, for each chapter we cover you will be asked to complete a chapter quiz online. This will be
short (10 multiple choice questions) and you will have 5 tries to complete the quiz for each chapter (The questions and
answer order may change for each attempt. There are two exams: a midterm and a final that will include multiple
choice and short answer essay questions. You are expected to attend all lectures and complete all assignments and
exams in timely fashion. Should there be a problem with those expectations please see me to arrange an alternative
way to satisfy your obligations. I reserve the right to deduct grade points for unexcused late work. PLEASE CHECK
YOUR COLLEGE ISSUED EMAIL ON A REGULAR BASIS AS IT IS THE MOST RELIABLE WAY TO
CONTACT YOU OUTSIDE OF CLASS.
Textbook: Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Fredrickson, B. L.,,Loftus, G. R. and Lutz, C., (2014) Atkinson and Hilgard's
Introduction to Psychology (16th edition), Cengage Publishing. ISBN-13: 978-1-4080-8902-6 / ISBN-10: 1-40808902-5
Grading:
15 %
Weekly assignments/ class participation
30 %
Chapter Quizzes
25 %
Midterm Exam
30 %
Final Exam
Weekly Assignment: Due each MONDAY before we begin the chapter. :
Each week we will read at least one chapter of the text plus occasional supplementary materials. To help
prepare you for our discussion of the material I ask that you do the following short assignment. This
assignment should not take much of your time as each point should only be a sentence or two. PLEASE
SUBMIT THESE TO MOODLE ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY WE DISCUSS THE TOPIC IN
CLASS
1. Identify ONE major claim and evaluate the kind of evidence used to support it?
2. Briefly describe one example from your own experience or someone you know that
is relevant for the topic in this chapter.
3. Identify one thing you disagree with about either the theories outlined or the
use of the evidence to support them? Be specific
4. Ask one good question about the chapter.
These will be graded as follows:
2 points: All items addressed correctly
1 point: Incomplete OR missing some details
0 point: Not submitted or very insubstantial
Chapter Quizzes: DUE – a few days after we finish discussing the chapter in class (see syllabus)
Each quiz will consist of 10 randomly selected Multiple choice questions for the chapter. You will have 5
chances to improve your grade for the quiz, but keep in mind that each trial may consist of different
questions. This quiz will be done online and is open book and you will have a time limit for each attempt
of 15 minutes. Your grade will be the best answer out of all your submitted attempts before the deadline.
Psychology 1101 01, Introduction to Psychology 1
SYLLABUS
Date
Topic
Readings
QUIZ DUE:
Aug 31 Introduction
Sep 2
Overview of Psychological SCIENCE and THEORY
Sep 4
Psychology and Success in College
Sep 7
Labour Day, College Closed
Sep 9
History and Perspectives of Psychology
Chapter 1
Sep 11
History and Perspectives of Psychology
Chapter 1
Sep 14
Central Nervous System
Neuron Structure; Neural impulse; Synaptic Transmission
Chapter 2
Sep 16
Central Nervous System
Neuron Structure; Neural impulse; Synaptic Transmission
Chapter 2
Sep 18
Central Nervous System
Brain Structure
Chapter 2
Sep 21
Sensation
Chapter 4
Sep 23
Sensation
Chapter 4
Sep 25
Sensation
Chapter 4
Sep 28
Perception (Visual Illusions)
Chapter 5
Sep 30
Perception
Chapter 5
Oct 2
Perception
Chapter 5
Oct 5
Consciousness
Chapter 6
Oct 7
Consciousness
Chapter 6
Oct 9
Consciousness
Chapter 6
Oct 12
MIDTERM EXAM
Oct 14
Consciousness
Oct 16
First Semester Break – College closed
Oct 19
Learning Theory
Chapter 7
Oct 21
Learning Theory
Chapter 7
Oct 23
Learning Theory
Chapter 7
Oct 26
Learning Theory
Chapter 7
Oct 28
Learning Theory
Chapter 7
Oct 30
Learning Theory
Chapter 7
Nov 2
Thought and Language
Chapter 9
Nov 4
Thought and Language
Chapter 9
Nov 6
Thought and Language
Chapter 9
Nov 9
Memory and Information Processing
Chapter 8
Nov 11 Remembrance Day, College closed
Chapter6
Chapter 8
Ch. 2 Quiz DUE
Ch. 4 Quiz DUE
Ch. 5 Quiz DUE
Ch. 6 Quiz DUE
Ch. 7 Quiz DUE
Nov 13 Memory and Information Processing
Chapter 8
Nov 16 Memory and Information Processing
Chapter 8
Nov 18 Memory and Information Processing
Chapter 8
Nov 20 Memory and Information Processing
Chapter 8
Nov 23 Intelligence and Individual Differences
Chapter 12
Nov 25 Intelligence and Individual Differences
Chapter 12
Nov 27 Intelligence and Individual Differences
Chapter 12
Nov 30 Motivation and Emotions
Chapter 10,11
Dec 2
Motivation and Emotions
Chapter 10,11
Dec 4
Motivation and Emotions
Chapter 10,11
Dec ?? Final Exam
Chapters
1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12
Ch. 9 Quiz DUE
Ch. 9 Quiz DUE
Ch. 10/11 Quiz
DUE